"David Hare-Scott" writes:

Julie Thomas wrote:
I have just bought a clematis, jasmine, honeysuckle and a wisteria
and I am about to plant them to grow up our fence. Do I have to have
a trellis? It seems a bit expense and wonder if there is anything
cheaper that will suffice, such as a type of netting or something? I
have no experience at all of gardening and thought this might be a
good place to get advice.

Thanks in anticipation

Julie

You are likely to pull down your fence depending on how well it is
built. Have a look at mature versions of the climbers that you are
growing and then picture how your fence will hold the weight when they
are that big. Consider the consequences if this is a boundary fence,
what will your neighbour think? Netting (or string) will do to train
the young plants but it will not hold the weight of mature plants.

It is good to plan these things and cost them out before you buy the
plants. Buying first and then wondering what to do with them can be a
waste of money.

I've never grown Jasmine, but the wisteria is definitely a fence
crusher.

That seems like a lot of vines.

The clematis could easily take 5 feet of horizontal area.
Honeysuckles are bigger, maybe 10 feet.


--
Dan Espen